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To my father on his 69th birthday

In the dark I can move through the old farmhouse. Easy. Quiet. My muscle memory knows every corner, every light switch location, the subtle slope of the living room where the foundation is sinking into the earth, and where the trim has been worn down from three generations of our family’s hands lightly touching the edge of doorways.

I wonder what it was like for you when you brought my sister into this house, old even then, for the first time, new parents. Mom told me you almost passed out when she told you she was pregnant.

The sleigh bells on a leather strap that hang on the front door are still there. The old refrigerator finally gave out. I’m having a hard time getting rid of it. It’s still sitting on the porch, probably irritating mom. It's real classy.

When I walk around this house I can’t help but run into you. You are always here. I just have to hit play in my head and can watch you struggle to put on your work boots with five hunting dogs vying for your attention or watch you stand over the stove frying up some sausage you just made in the butcher shop, me coming in from behind snatching pieces.

When you died, I worried I’d forget you. And now, three and a half years later, I’m starting to lose some of the exactness of my memories; grief sharpened them, time is now softening them. But the house holds them for me.

***

Do you remember that time we both fell asleep on the couch listening to Kris Kristofferson on vinyl when I was around eight? When you were eight your dad was making you fight bigger neighborhood boys. You got beat up until one day you were stronger than everyone else.

A friend of ours who met you once, in a pleasant encounter, told us later, "strikes me as a dangerous man."

He saw something in your eyes.

***

In this house, I can watch you stack wood, a proper stack, all the way up to the ceiling. I see you walk behind me while I’m eating breakfast at the counter and poke me in the sides to make me jump. I see you walking in the door exhausted from a day of busting tires at the store, or plowing snow, or cutting wood. I hear the phone ring in the middle of the night and see you walking down the stairs, knowing it’s a service call and you have to drive somewhere and change a tire.

In this house that we both know so well, in late fall, I hung up the phone and walked into the living room, the one that is sinking slowly into the earth, and Mike put his hand on my shoulder. I wanted so badly to keep walking. I heard mom in the kitchen. I didn’t want him to open his mouth but he did. "Don’t," I thought. But he had to. You would be happy he was there for me, dad, he’s a good man, but you knew that.

“Your dad shot himself.” Mike said. He was strong for me.

Do you remember the first time you met him? You shook his hand and said, “if you make her happy, I’m happy.” Thank you for that.

The mind works so quickly. In a split second I thought, “why would you say something like that to me?” and then “but he’s not dead right?” and then I collapsed on the wood floor.

***

I want to ask you about the day you told your mom that your little sister took too many pills and drank too much vodka. I remember it so clearly. When you found out, you and I got in the truck and drove to grandma’s. We took the elevator up four floors. We didn’t talk. I was scared of you sometimes. My grandmother opened the door and saw your face. I saw her buckle and sway. That is what I must have looked like to Mike.

You said, “She’s dead Ma.” You always called her Ma. And then you grabbed her for a hug. It was a tight, big hug that felt like you were being swallowed.

After you let her go, she composed herself. She wasn’t crying but you were. She asked you how. You told her. She said, “Well, I guess that was a waste of money on rehab.”

I can feel the stillness in the room.

Now this memory is only mine.

***

When is it appropriate to tell these things about a family? I don’t think you’d mind. In fact, I know you wouldn’t. There’s a lot more to tell.

***

I am glad now that it was this house that held me up when I fell, that I was in the house you loved. We sat in the kitchen all day. I don’t remember what we talked about but it seemed right that we were all sitting around the old kitchen table that hasn't moved in decades. I know now that a place can make pain and grief easier to bear. Every time I consider tearing it down and building something new, I am stopped because of what it holds for me.

When I fall asleep in the bedroom that I’ve always known, I dream that you are not dead. In these dreams we are talking and I am flooded with relief. You dying, I think, that was just a big mistake. Thank god.

When will those stop, do you think?

***

Do you remember when you were in rehab in Colorado and I came to visit? We broke the rules and you came out to my car to see Lena. You weren't supposed to leave the campus. I was nervous we would get caught. You were always breaking rules. She whined she was so happy to see you.

I was having a hard time, the hardest time I could remember, and for a moment you weren't thinking about your own pain.

You held on to my hand while I talked. You gave me a huge hug, my ribs hurt, and you didn’t let go.

17 Comments on “To my father on his 69th birthday”

Alexis. Thank-you for sharing your family story. You are a brave woman.
I too have a family full of addiction and mental health issues, they either break you or make you stronger. Being stronger doesn’t necessarily soften the grief.

Alexis, your story touched my heart in so many ways. I thought about my father as I read your story, the memories of my “daddy” are so vivid in my mind. The trauma of losing a loved one never goes away, it gets hidden in the back of one’s mind, then for no reason, something pops up and here comes the memories, good, happy, sad, funny but all about LOVE~

Alex,
You struck so many chords with this. Different strings, but familiar chords. Good thing I touch-type, cause I’d have trouble otherwise (kinda tearful). For me, I’ve found many, if not now most, memories carry a big load of sadness: the sad ones for obvious reason; the happy ones because they’re gone. As I saw expressed a few days ago, you don’t get past grief. You just learn to live with it.

Alexis, I was on the edge of tears reading this piece. Very nicely done. Just as your post showed up in my email, I was cleaning out files and found three letters my father sent me when I was about 9 years old. He sent them the year he died. Keeping banging away on the keyboard… You write soooo well…

Stunning Alexis. I am breathless. You are a powerful writer. Clear and succinct to your core.
Oh how your bring your Dad to the ever present
A good man
A very good man
Love you Alexis for sharing this gift to all who knew and loved him. Your are a reflection of his very goodness. Your words are solid and strong.

Alexis~your beautiful story made me cry—it brought back so many things I remember about your dad. Once you knew him, you never forgot him. He would be so proud of you carrying on so many things that he loved. Love you sweet niece.

I had dreams too that it was all a big misunderstanding and my mom was still alive. I wonder how common that is? They aren’t as frequent as they used to be and sometimes I think they’ve stopped. Then one morning I wake up from one as if she showed back up. It’s jarring but all I want to do is fall back into the dream. I never knew your dad but I think he appreciates this honest homage.

Beautiful. To have handled a subject such as this, never mind that it was personal, as skillfully, tenderly and respectfully as you have is truly remarkable ~ except that I am so incredibly moved that I am unable to remark! I am left thinking of a quote from Emily Dickinson, when she lost her father ~ “Home is so far from home since my father died.”
Sincerely, my deepest sympathies…

Alexis, you have written a fine tribute to your dad. It is evident that the words come straight from your soul and they certainly reached mine! Tom touched the hearts of a lot of people in his life. He regularly went out of his way to help those who found themselves in a tight spot, myself included. Many blessings to you and your family.

Alexis, your history, so eloquently written, could matchup with many Montana families. The addiction to alcohol, drugs or both ran deep. Your love for your father never waivered, you were strong. With time, the jagged edges of the memories start to round and the good prevails. You bared your beautiful soul and I thank you.

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